Apparatus for dispensing liquid



Filed June 7. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 13, 1938. I A. E. L A DEV VIG 2,129,944

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID Filed June 7. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY l measuring, feeding, mixing and dispensing liqparatiis, may be had by referring to the draw- Patented Se t is, 1938 I i I I 2,129,944

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID Archie E. Ladcwil, Waukesha, Wis. Application June I, 1935, Serial No. 25,406

e 1 '1 Claims. (01, 21-101) The present invention relates in general to imwhich is adjustable to vary the, proportions of provements in the art of mixing and of feeding the mixture, and which functions positively and a mixture of liquids to a zone of utilization, and eflectively without the aid of a pump. relates more specifically to improved apparatus These and other objects and advantages will 5 for automaticallymixing predetermined quantibe apparent from the following detailed descrip- 5 ties of liquid and fbr dispensing the mixture in tion. r y a desirable manner. A clear conception of the several features of Generally defined, an object of the present inthe improved dispenser, and of the details of vention is to provide improved apparatus for construction of one form of the improved apuids. ings accompanying and forming a part of this In the art of washing bottles or the like in specification in which like reference characters succession, it is customary to inject a sterilizing designate the same or similar parts in the several solution consisting of a mixture of sodium hypo- I views.

5 chlorite and clean water, into and against each Fig. 1 is a part sectional diagram of the imof the washed bottles prior to final delivery thereproved measuring and feeding apparatus applied of from the washing machine. The mixture is toabottle washer, showing the elements-in the ordinarily produced by'dripping the concentrated act of delivering a charge of the sterilizing mixsolution of the chemical at a predeterminedrate ture to the interior of a bottle; and

from a container into a reservoir of clean water, Fig. 2 is a similar diagram of the assemblage 20 and the resultant mixture is forced by means of of Fig. 1, showing the same just following dea pump from the reservoir to the bottles past a livery of a charge to the bottle and in the act of mechanically actuated control valve which perpreparing a subsequent charge of sterilizing mixmits delivery of the sterilizing solution .to the ture.

bottles only when the latter are at rest. If the While the invention has been shown and de- 25 machine is stopped and the control valve is scribed herein as being specifically applied to a closed, the continued dripping .of concentrated bottle sterilizing assemblage for bottle washing. solution into the reservoir produces an undesirmachines, it is not the intent to unnecessarily ably strong mixture; whereas, if such stoppage of restrict the scope by such specific embodiment,.

the machine occurs while the delivery contrcl since the improved liquid mixing and dispensing 30 valve is open, the mixture will become undesiractions may obviously be more generally applied ably weak and ineffective, and considerable liquid to other industries. chemical is frequently wasted. This prior method Referring to the drawings, theimproved steriis therefore relatively unsatisfactory because it lizer comprises in general a stationary crossdoes not maintain a uniform sterilizing solufitting 5 having vertically and horizontally alined 35 tion under all conditions of operation, and the opposite openings; a fresh water supply pipe e prior sterilizing mechanism besides being wasteleading from a fresh water supply source to the ful is also relatively complicated and therefor upper vertical opening of the fitting and having subject to inoperativeness. a control valve I therein; a mixturedelivery pipe 40 It is a more specific object of. the present in- 8 leading from the lower vertical pening .to a 40 vention to provide an improved assemblage for telescopically adju t d pe s ng pipe t which producing a bottle sterilizing mixture, and for communicates with a dispensing reservoir ill; a delivering a mixture of uniform strengthto the chemical injection pipe ii leading from an initial' v successive bottles in a most effective manner and diluting basin I? to One 9 the horizontal fitting 5 without wasting the mixture even under abnoropenings and having a non-return check valve 5 mal conditions of operation. it therein; a fresh liquid by-pass pipe it lead- A further specific object of the invention is to ing from the other horizontal opening to the provide an improved assemblage of elements basin I2 and having an adjustable plug valve I5 whereby equal quantities of uniform sterilizing therein; a concentrated chemical supply basin 5 mixture are delivered to each of the successive i6 located near the diluting basin l2; and mechbottles of a series, and wherein the dispensation anism for automatically transferringmeasured of mixture ceases with stoppage of the machine quantities of liquid from the basin it to the thereby eliminating wastage of chlorine. basin l2, and for actuating the control valve 1.

Still another specific object of the invention is I'he fitting 5 and the piping associated there- 5 to provide an improved liquid mixer and feeder with may be disposed at the side of the housing of an ordinary bottle washing machine wherein one of which has been illustrated diagrammatically, are carried by a sterilizing liquid supply header I9 which may be connected to the upper end of the dispensing reservoir ill by means of a pipe 20, and the lower interior of the reservoir l may be provided with a mixing bailie 2! as shown. The conveyor which transports the bottles .I'I through the washer, is intermittently propelled by means of an oscillatory lever 22 which is driven by an electric motor 23 through suitable gearing, in a well known manner.

The fresh water supply pipe 6 may have a strainer or'separator 24 associated therewith in advance of the control valve 1, and this valve is operable to be opened by a solenoid 25. The solenoid may be energized to open the valve 1 while the bottles H are at rest as shown in Fig. 1, by closing of a mercury tumbler switch 26, and

- both the motor 23 and the solenoid 25 may be deenergized by throwing out the main switch 21. The tumbler switch 26 is normally periodically operable by means of trip blocks 28, 23 which are 'adjustably secured to a reciprocable rod 30 operatively connected to the lever 22, and the rod 30 is adjustably connected to one end oi! a second rod 3| by means of a coupling 32. The opposite end of the rod 3| is pivotally attached to the swinging end of a lever 33 which is operatively connected to a rockable dipper 34.

The rod 3|, lever 33 and dipper 34 constitute the mechanism for automatically and periodically transferring measured quantities of concentrated chemical from the supply basin I6 to the diluting basin l2, and the liquid chemical may be delivered to the basin l6 from an inverted supply bottle 35 in a well known manner, so as to maintain a substantially constant quantity of liquid within the basin l6. The fresh water supplied to the basin l2 through the by-pass pipe i4 not only dilutes the concentrated chemical, but also serves to establisha hydraulic head within this basin, suflicient to actuate the check'valve I3 when a partial vacuum is created within the fitting 5. The quantity of diluting water passing through the pipe l4, may obviously be regulated by adjustment of the plug valve I5, and the quantity of chemical delivered to the basin l2 during each rocking movement oi the dipper 34 may be predetermined by adjustment of the coupling 32. The degree of I vacuum created within the fittings as well as the intensity of the spray jet 36 delivered from the nozzles 18, may be regulated by adjusting the pipe 9 telescopically relative to the pipe 8, and the time and duration of 'the opening and closing of the switch 26 may, be varied by adjusting the trip blocks 28, 26 relative to each other and to their carrier rod 33.

During normal operation of the improved assemblage of elements, the supply basin I3 is maintained filled with liquid chemical from the bottle 35, and the electric motor 23 is functioning to oscillate the conveyor driving lever 22 and 'to thereby transport the washed bottles I! past the sterilizing nozzles l3 prior to final delivery oi' the bottles from the machine. This transportationof the bottles I! is intermittent and as each bottle is positioned above a nozzle l3, it is stopped andremains at rest during the time that the actuating lever 22 swings from its extreme right position as shown in Fig.- 2 to its extreme let position as shown in Fig. 1. During this interval of rest, the tumbler switch 26 is closed as indicated in Fig. 1, thereby energizing the solenoid 25 and opening the fresh water control valve 1.

When the valve 1 opens, water under pressure is admitted to the fitting through the pipe 6, and

- flows through the pipes 8, 8 to the reservoir HI.

admission of liquid under pressure to the reservoir Ill, causes sterilizing mixture to flow.

through the pipe 20, header l9, and nozzles l8, and to be delivered into the bottles H in the form of a spray jet 36. injection of sterilizing liquid into the bottles H, the check valve I3 is closedby the liquid under pressure within the fitting 5, and a predetermined quantity of fresh water is forced past the plug valve l5, throughthe by-pass pipe i4, and into the basin" l2 preparatory to the admission of a quantity oi concentrated chemical by the dipper 34. This action of the mechanism is illustratedin Fig. l, and continues so long as the control valve 1 is maintained open by the solenoid 25.

When the conveyor actuating lever 22 is swung toward the right from the position shown in Fig.

l and toward the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottles I! are advanced so as to carry the finally treated bottles away from the nozzles l8 and to position other bottles over these nozzles. This swinging'motion oi the lever 22 causes the rods 30, 3| to simultaneously move in the same direction, thereby releasinglthe tumbler switch 26 from'the trip block 23 and opening the switch thereby deenergizing the solenoid 25 and causing the control valve I to close. This movement of therod 3| rocks the dipper 34 and causes transference 01' a definite quantity of concentrated chemical'from the basin Upon closing 01' the valve 1, the inertia and hydraulic head of the liquid within the pipes,

6, 8, .9, causes the sterilizing mixture to continue flowing from the reservoir I0, header l8 and Simultaneously with this I6 to the basin l2.

nozzles l8 and to produce a vacuous space within the pipes 6,- 8 as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon a' charge of the initially diluted chemical from the basinl2,,opens the check valve l3 and flows through the pipe ll into the fitting 5. The charge of chemical solution thus admitted, seeps through the column of liquid remaining in the pipe 9 and. is eventually injected into the reservoir I0 past the baflle plate 2|, thus producing a properly proportioned sterilizing mixture in the reservoir.

The "mechanism thus functions automatically to deliver accurately premeasured charges of initially diluted chemical from the basin l2 into the piping leading to the reservoir ll during intermittent transportation of the bottles l1. When the roller of the tumbler switch 26 strikes the trip block 23', the switch is positively held in open position, and the period of opening and closing of this switchmay be readily varied by adjusting the blocks 28, 23 along the rod 33 and relative to each other. The successive steps involved in thedmproved process are obviously repeated during normal operation of the bottle washing machine, in'such a manner, that eachot the successive bottles I! are subjected to a Jet, 36 of sterilizinl liquid for a'definite period or time and prior to final delivery thereof from the washing machine. When the washingmachine is stopped as by opening the main switch 21, the.

fiow of sterilizing liquid is likewise automatically stopped, since such stoppage of the machine will cause the lever 22 to come to rest and wili'therefor independently varying the quantities of liquid by prevent-subsequent delivery of concentrated chemical from the basin 1 8 to the basin l2. Such stoppage of the machine will also cause the con-.

trol valve I to close, thereby positively interrupting further operation of the measuring and fitting mechanismuntil the bottle washing machine is again started.

From the foregoing description, it will be ap-- parent that the present invention provides improved apparatus for measuring. mixing and dispensing liquids in predetermined proportions. The apparatus is extremely simple in construction and is therefore not subject to becoming The various adjustments provided suits with minimum waste of chemicahand will also permit variation in proportions of the mixture, to suit any desired conditions. The mixing chamber or reservoir I0 is preferably of relatively great capacity in order to produce a properly diluted solution to provide ample time for thorough mixing of the water and chemical, such mixing being augmented by the baffle plate The telescopic adjustment provided by the pipe 8, permits variation in the hydraulic head so that the period of time during which the jets 36 are being delivered, may be conveniently varied. The coupling 12 provides simple yet effective means for varying the quantity of concentrated solution injected into the system, and the intensity as well as the duration of the spray jet 36 may obviously be varied by changing the period of opening of the control valve 1. .The system functions automatically and effectively in spite of the fact that no positive-displacement pump is utilized, and while the invention has proven highly successful in conjunction with bottle washing machines, it is obviously susceptible to more general adaptation. Although sodium hypochlorite is the chemical ordinarily .utilized in sterilizers for bottle washing machines, other chemical solutions may be substituted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It should be understood that it is not desired to 'limit the invention to the. exact details of construction of the apparatus and to the. precise I steps of operation Herein shown and described,

for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patentr- .1. In combination, means forming a conduit, meansfor delivering regulated quantities of liquid into said conduit, a chemical supply basin, a secondlbasin, means for transferring measured quantities of chemical from said supply to said second basin, .and means for injecting one measured quantity of chemicalto each separate quantity of saidliquid delivered to said conduit.-

2. In combination, means forming a conduit,

means for delivering regulated quantities of liquid into said conduit, a-chemical supply basin. a second basin", means for t erring measured quantities of chemical from said supp to said second basin, means for injecting one measured quantity of chemical to each separate quantity oi said liquid delivered to said conduit, and means andchemical.

3. In combination, means forming a conduit. means for delivering regulated quantities of liquid under pressure into said conduit, chemical supply basin, a mixing basin, means for'tranh' ing basin into each separate quantity of said liquid delivered to said conduit.

4. In combination, means forming a conduit, means for delivering regulated quantities of liq-' uid under pressure intosaid conduit, a chemical supply basin, a mixing basin, means for transferring measured quantities of chemical from said supply to said mixing basin, means for admitting diluting liquid to said mixing basin, means for injecting one measured quantity of chemical with its diluting liquid from said mixing basin into each separate quantity of said liquid delivered to said conduit, and. means for independently varying the quantities of said liquid and chemical.

5. In combination, means forming a conduit. means for delivering regulated quantities of liquid under pressure into said conduit, a chemical supply basin, a mixing basin, anoscillatcry dipper for transferring successive-measured quantitles of chemical fromsaid supply to said mix.-

"ing basin, means for injecting one measured of liquid deliveredto said conduit, and means for effecting relative-variation in the quantities of liquid and chemical.

6. In combination, means forming a conduit, valve means for delivering regulated quantities of liquid into said conduit, a. chemical supply basin, a mixing basin, movable means for transferring measured quantities of-'chem ical from said supply to said mixing basin. means for admltting diluting liquid from said conduit-to said mixing basin, means for injecting a measured quantity of chemical with its diluting liquid from said mixing basin into each successive quantity of said liquid passing through said. conduit, a rod for moving said chemical transferring means, an element slidably adjustable along said rod. and

means operable by said adjustable element for varying the time of actuation of said valve. v

7. In combination, means forming a conduit,

valve means for delivering regulated quantities T of liquid into said,- conduit, a chemical m basin, a'mixing basin, an-oscillatory dipper for. transferring successive measured quantities ct chemical from said supply to said mixing basin.

means for injecting one measured quantiw 0! chemical to each separate quantity of said 1111- uid deliveredt'c said conduit. a reciprocable rod foloscillating said dipper, an element adjustable along'said rod, and stumbles s'witchoperable said adjustableelement for varying the time operation oi saidvslvewithrespecttothe'perioih ofoscillstionof saiddipper. 

